It's been a while since I've had an rst and i recently got another one, I'm starting to get used to it again,but it seems that while the brakes do work you have to press them quite hard, I don't know if that's what they are like and I have been spoilt as my other car is a mk4 golf gttdi, or if I am missing something, as it doesn't really feel like there is any servo assistance?
As i said they do work fairly good but you really feel as if it is the force of you pressing the pedal that is making it stop, with no help from the car, bit like when you're being towed but not as bad, hope that makes sense, can't make my mind up if it should be like that


Also, the car seems a bit susceptible to following the bumps on the road and seems to sometimes wander slightly on the shite roads round here, again don't know if this is how they are or would it be the anti-roll bar bushes or something?

 

my brakes are pritty hard on mine i think thats just how thay are.

have you got uprated brake pads on yours, i remember i had a set or green stiff/stuff pads on mine and when thay were cold or going slow i though i was going into the person in front all the time

i would say the bushes aswell

 

if you need to press them abnormally hard then i'd say theirs a servo assistance problem.

following the road sounds like it could be:

Bushes
rack
steering coupling
tracking

 

Yeah just been out in it, they do work as I just tried a semi emergency stop, just have to press em quite hard, probably is just normal

 

There doesn't seem to be any play in steering (was gonna put this but forgot) and it has just been tracked as it had a wheel bearing and 2 track control arms, and laser tracked, so that would probably leave the steering coupling and bushes. Can still read 'ford' on the bushes so maybe they are the original 18yr old ones, probably them, but how could I eliminate / confirm it being the steering coupling?

 

Thanks for the replies btw

 

I'd get it up on a ramp, lever all the bushes to see what ones have play in them.

as for steering, get it on a ramp, shake the wheels with lock off and feel for play/listen for knocking

Could be a few things best jus to check the whole front suspension/steering over!

 

A hard pedal is just a fact of life with these cars, a lot of effort is lost through slop in the brake linkage, flex across the bulk head, and excessive master cylinder sizes.

As for the road handling, that again is very common. I'm guessing you have the car lowered? And if it is, that will be the answer to your question.

 

VW's have horrendously sensitive brakes. The S2 you have to press harder, and have much more feel.

 

Thats the way i've always thought about it aswell to be honest, in quite a lot of ways i do prefer it.

 

Change your track rod ends